Competition year : 
2022-2023

Deadline (application) : 
October 13th, 2021 at 16:00 (EST)

Announcement of results : 
End of April 2021

Amount : 
$45,000/year + $10,000/year if the host environment is more than 250 km from Québec

Duration : 
6 to 24 months + possibility of additional 12 months (conditions apply)

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In your application, you will  have the opportunity to  describe  how  the  COVID-19  pandemic  may  have  affected  your  training  or  research  activities, in  order  for  this  information  to    be considered  in  the  evaluation  of  your  application. Please refer to the document  “Considering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the evaluation of funding applications” for further information.

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IMPORTANT: The link to the FRQnet E-portfolio is available under Portal access on the website. Further details are available in the About FRQnet section .

Note: In the event of a discrepancy between the English and French versions of this program, the French version prevails.

This program refers to the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) Common General Rules (CGR), which apply to all Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC) programs. Only conditions specific to the Postdoctoral Fellowship program (B3Z) are indicated in this document and these prevail over the CGR.

The Fonds uses the Canadian Common CV and also requires a PDF file of detailed contributions, available  in  the  E-portfolio.  Refer to Preparing a CV for  the  Fonds and Detailed Contributions attachment to the Canadian Common CV in the program Toolbox.

Please consult the document “Information Guide – New evaluation criteria” in the toolbox, which aims to provide you with the tools you need to prepare your application and to facilitate the understanding and interpretation of the newly added criteria for this competition.

Updates to contact information can be made directly under “My profile” in the FRQnet E-portfolio.

AN APPLICATION THAT IS INCOMPLETE ON THE COMPETITION DEADLINE OF 4 P.M. ON OCTOBER 13, 2021 WILL BE DEEMED INELIGIBLE BY THE FONDS. READ SECTION 3 CAREFULLY TO AVOID OMITTING ANY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.

SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WHILE PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION, DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE PROGRAM OFFICER.

This version was updated on July 9, 2021, subject to the approval of the ministre de l’Économie et de l’Innovation.

Table of contents

  1. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
  2. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
  3. SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
  4. APPLICATION ASSESSMENT
  5. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULTS AND VALUE OF THE FELLOWSHIP
  6. TERMS OF THE FELLOWSHIP
  7. SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP
  8. EFFECTIVE DATE

1. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Postdoctoral Fellowship program are as follows:

  • Contribute to the development of the next generation of experts in the social sciences, humanities, arts and literature;
  • Support individuals who have graduated from doctoral programs as they broaden the scope of their research;
  • Foster the mobility of young researchers towards stimulating and dynamic scientific environments such as universities, corporate environments, government organizations and university-affiliated service centres.

In keeping with its Knowledge Mobilization Strategy , the Fonds encourage funding recipients to carry out such activities (sharing, valorization, dissemination, etc.) for the general public, whenever such activities are relevant in the context of their research.

In accordance with the Fonds de recherche du Québec open access policy for the dissemination of research  , all funding recipients must agree to provide open access to their scientific publications no later than 12 months after publication. To learn more about the FRQ’s requirements on this subject, please visit our page on open science.

Finally, the Fonds de recherche du Québec wish to contribute to supporting a research ecosystem based on equity, diversity and inclusion. Measures have been put in place to strengthen the integration of these principles. Funding recipients are also encouraged to consider them in the context of their research activities. For more information, please visit our website .

2. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements on the competition deadline of October 13, 2021 at 4 p.m.

2.1 Eligibility period and target group
This program is aimed at applicants who:

  • obtained their doctorate within 2 years (no more than 24 months) prior to the competition deadline;

OR

  • who will make their initial thesis submission no later than March 1st, 2023, the deadline by which grant payments must begin.

Eligibility will be determined based on the date indicated on the doctoral diploma.

2.2 Eligibility period exceptions
Exceptions regarding postdoctoral fellowship eligibility periods will only be considered in circumstances that are beyond the applicant’s control. Applicants may suspend or postpone their studies for parental leave, major family obligations, serious illness, or because of a disability. In all such cases, supporting documents must be submitted along with the application, in the sections intended for this purpose (see Section 3.2.8 – Other Documents).

Parental leave, major family obligations or serious illness
Applicants who have interrupted or delayed their studies for parental leave, major family obligations or serious illness may be granted an eligibility period extension. In the case of parental leave, the eligibility period may be extended for up to one year per parental leave. In the case of major family obligations or a career interruption due to serious illness, the Fonds will determine the extension to be granted based on the supporting documents provided by the applicant.

Persons with disabilities
Applicants who suspend or postpone their studies for reasons related to a disability may also be granted an eligibility period extension. This exemption is in accordance with the Act to secure handicapped persons in the exercise of their rights with a view to achieving social, school and workplace integration (CQLR c. E-20.1). Supporting documents are required and must be submitted with the application.

The Fonds reserves the right to refuse any request that is not adequately justified.

2.3 Citizenship and residence

To be eligible to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship, applicants must provide proof that they lived in Québec for 6 months of the 7 months prior to the competition deadline OR have a Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) card* that is valid at the competition deadline or proof of application for a RAMQ card and that the new card will be valid at the competition deadline.

To use a training award outside Québec, the recipient must have a valid RAMQ card or proof of application for a RAMQ card and that the new card will be valid at the competition deadline AND be a Canadian citizen at the time of application.

Individuals who do not have a valid RAMQ card or proof that they have requested a RAMQ card and that the new card will be valid at the competition deadline, or who are not Canadian citizens at the time of application, must pursue their postdoctoral internship in Québec.

Their continuous physical presence in Québec is required throughout the duration of funding, apart from break periods listed in the university calendar. Those under co-supervision are also subject to this rule.

FRQSC scholarship holders must meet the citizenship and residency requirements throughout the duration of the scholarship.

* The RAMQ card is issued by the Québec government and allows the holder to benefit from the services covered under the Québec health insurance plan. Private health insurance cards do not replace the RAMQ card and are not accepted.

2.4 Restrictions
Applicants may only submit an application to one of the following FRQSC scholarship programs in the same year: Master’s Research Scholarships (B1Z); Doctoral Research Scholarships (B2Z); Scholarships for re-entering the Research Community (A2Z); Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z); Postdoctoral Research-Creation Fellowship (B5).

Applicants may only hold a scholarship from one of the Fonds (CGR, Section 3.1).

Applicants who receive or have received postdoctoral funding from a recognized agency in Québec or Canada (e.g. SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR, FRQSC, FRQNT, FRQS, FCAR, CQRS, etc.) are not eligible for this competition.

Applicants who hold a regular professorial position at a university are not eligible for this program, as per Section 2.2 of the CGR.

2.5 Choice of host environment (supervision and co-supervision, if applicable)
The planned host environment(s) must enable applicants to join new scientific networks, enhance their research perspectives and develop collaborative relationships in a quality scientific environment. The applicant must plan to be present at the host environment throughout the duration of the fellowship, in accordance with the host environment integration objectives of this program. The postdoctoral research can be co-supervised, provided that the applicant spends a minimum of 6 months of the 2 years at the co-supervisory environment.

The Fonds encourages mobility outside Québec and internationally, when permitted by the program’s eligibility requirements. However, the research can be carried out in Québec if the project brings added value to the applicant’s doctoral training AND the choice is clearly justified.

Internship supervisor

The internship supervisor must have Status 1 (university researcher) or Status 2 (clinical university researcher) as defined in the CGR. (See “Definitions – Status and Roles” in the CGR.)

A fellowship holder cannot be supervised by his/her doctoral research supervisor.

Similarly, the supervisor cannot be affiliated with the institution where the applicant carried out his/her doctoral studies.

Internship co-supervisor (if applicable)

The internship can be co-supervised by a person with one of the following statuses as defined in the CGR (see “Definitions – Status and Roles”):

·          University researcher (Status 1);

·          Clinical university researcher (Status 2);

·          College researcher (Status 3);

·          Researcher in a government institution recognized by the FRQ (Status 4a);

·          Researcher in a government-sector organization not recognized by the FRQ

·          or in the private sector (Status 4b);

·          Practitioner (Status 4c);

·          Artist (Status 4d).

A fellowship holder cannot be co-supervised by his/her doctoral research supervisor.

Similarly, the co-supervisor cannot be affiliated with the institution where the applicant carried out his/her doctoral studies.

Supervising institution
The supervised internship must take place at the supervisor’s home university.

The supervised postdoctoral fellowship must be carried out at an institution other than the awarding institution or the co-supervisory/cotutelle institution (if applicable) of the doctoral degree.

IMPORTANT: Applicants who completed a joint doctoral program offered by multiple universities are encouraged to choose a host environment that is not at one of these associated universities. If not, this choice must be fully justified in the application.

Co-supervising institution (if applicable)
The co-supervising institution may be a university; a university-affiliated service centre; a public, parapublic, community, private or practice sector organization; or any other setting deemed appropriate. The co-supervisor must hold a full-time paid position at the co-supervising institution.

A co-supervised postdoctoral fellowship must be carried out at an institution other than the awarding institution or the co-supervisory/cotutelle institution (if applicable) of the doctoral degree.

The restriction regarding host environments for applicants who completed a joint doctoral program also applies to the choice of co-supervisory environment, if applicable.

An exception may be made in the case of major family obligations, a disability or for serious health reasons. Following analysis by the Fonds, an applicant may be authorized to propose a postdoctoral research project at the same institution that awarded their doctorate, but under a different supervisor. In order for the application to be considered admissible at the eligibility stage, it is the applicant’s responsibility  to  provide  the  necessary  explanations  in  an attachment in the “Host environment” section of the form and to upload relevant supporting documents (medical certificate, certificate of disability, proof of tax credit for caregivers, etc.) in the “Other documents” section. Note that these documents will be given to the scientific evaluation committee.

Field research and data collection trips are permitted. However, when these exceed a period of 6 months, a co-supervision agreement must be formalized in the application. A letter of acceptance must then be provided by the co-supervisor.

3. SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

T

IMPORTANT: Applicants are advised to prepare their application well in advance to ensure that it is submitted before the deadline, given the large number of applications and requests received by the Fonds at the end of the competition. It is also strongly recommended that all individuals who apply for a postdoctoral fellowship with the FRQSC simultaneously submit a similar application at the federal level.

As indicated in Section 3.1 of the CGR , applicants are responsible for sending their application package to the appropriate Fonds by referring to the list of Research areas of the three Fonds .

An application consists of:

  • The required forms available in the E-portfolio (see 3.1);
  • Required documents, attached to the form (see 3.2).

As indicated in Section 3 of the CGR, applicants certify that all information provided is accurate and complete, and undertake to comply with all rules and principles set out in the Fonds de recherche du Québec Policy for the responsible conduct of research. They authorize their institution to transmit, where applicable, any personally identifiable information resulting from the application of this policy. Applicants are asked to sign an agreement to that effect when submitting their application.

The FRQSC reserves the right to verify the authenticity of all documents and information provided with the organizations concerned.

3.1 Forms
The necessary forms are available in the FRQnet portal    no later than one month before the competition deadline.

Applicants must create an FRQnet user account on the Fonds website before applying, if they have not already done so. Individuals who already have a Fonds personal identification number (PIN) have direct access to a FRQnet account and must update their E-portfolio profile. (Watch our video Premier accès à votre profil.)

In accordance with the Politique sur la collecte de données sociodémographiques visant à planifier des mesures en matière d’équité, de diversité et d’inclusion, adopted by the boards of directors of the three Fonds in April 2021, all applicants applying through the FRQnet platform are now required to fill out a self-identification questionnaire to complete the My Profile section of their E-portfolio. For more information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on this topic.

IMPORTANT: It is the applicant’s sole responsibility to choose the right application form, the right funding program and the right Fonds for their application. In the event of an error in any of these respects, the Fonds will not transfer the application and the application will be deemed ineligible, either when assessed for eligibility or by the evaluation committee.

In the application form, applicants must select the evaluation committee that corresponds the best to their research topic. A List of evaluation committees is available in the program Toolbox. As this choice has a significant impact on the evaluation of their application, applicants are encouraged to contact the Fonds in case of doubt or difficulty in selecting the appropriate committee.

As indicated in the CGR   (Section 3.6), forms may be filled out in French or English. However, the title and abstract must imperatively be in French. This information will be used by the Fonds for promotional and dissemination purposes.

Pages in excess of the number permitted in each section of the application will be removed from the application before submission for evaluation.

The following forms are required:

  • POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP (B3Z) APPLICATION FORM.
  • CANADIAN COMMON CV and DETAILED CONTRIBUTIONS:

The Canadian Common CV and “Detailed contributions” attachment file are available in the Toolbox section on the fellowship program page or directly in the “Activity details” box in the E-portfolio. The Canadian Common CV–”Fonds Société et culture” version – must be updated within the 12 months prior to the competition deadline. The Detailed Contributions file must be completed in due form and attached to the application in the appropriate section of the E- portfolio. To ensure that the attachment is properly transmitted to the Fonds, it must be saved in PDF format under “Canadian Common CV” in the E-portfolio.

FORM(S) AND LETTER(S) FROM SUPERVISOR(S):

Supervisors, and co-supervisors where applicable, must complete the form provided for that purpose in their own FRQnet E-portfolio and attach the required file (letter of acceptance). A supervisor and/or co-supervisor who has a Fonds personal identification number (PIN) has access to an FRQnet account and must update his/her E-portfolio, if this has not already been done. A supervisor or co-supervisor who does not have an FRQnet account must first create a user account .

Once they have been transmitted electronically in accordance with the instructions provided in the form, the form and letter will be automatically attached to the applicant’s fellowship application.

The supervisors’ and co-supervisors’ (where applicable) letters must be completed in French or English and submitted electronically prior to the submission of the applicant’s application, no later than  the competition deadline. If any of these letters are not received by the Fonds, the application will be deemed ineligible. Only letters completed using the FRQSC form in the FRQnet portal will be accepted. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the persons concerned with instructions for creating an account and writing the letter, and to ensure that the letters and forms are submitted before the deadline.

These letters of acceptance support the application but should in no way serve to fill any gaps in the applicant’s demonstration of alignment with the “Host environment” criterion (see Section 4.2).

IMPORTANT: Throughout the application process, applicants are encouraged to check that no correspondence from the Fonds has ended up in the “junk” or “spam” folder of their email Inbox. They are also advised to ensure that anyone involved with their application does the same.

3.2 Required documents
The required documents, detailed below, must be scanned in PDF format and inserted directly into the application in the appropriate sections of the form under “Activity details”.

To be accepted, scanned PDF copies must be legible and without read protection or special double tab configuration.

Any official document submitted in a language other than French or English must be accompanied by a professional translation certified as a true copy of the original document. Any other document submitted in a language other than French or English must include a basic translation.

Please refer to the FRQNet Application Presentation Standards document to properly format any documents to be attached to the application.

The number of pages required for each section may vary and is specified in the form.

Applicants may include links to web pages as bibliographic references, where relevant. These web addresses may also be listed in the bibliography. However, the application must not be based in whole or in part on online content available to members of the evaluation committee.

3.2.1 “Pre-eligibility” section

  • RAMQ CARD THAT IS VALID AT THE COMPETITION DEADLINE OR PROOF OF APPLICATION FOR A RAMQ CARD AND THAT THE NEW CARD WILL BE VALID AT THE COMPETITION DEADLINE (if applicable):

Applicants who are resident in Québec within the meaning of the Act respecting the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) must provide a copy of their RAMQ card, which must be valid at the competition deadline, or proof that a card has been requested from the RAMQ and that the new card will be valid at the competition deadline.

3.2.2 “University record” section

The following documents must be scanned vertically (portrait orientation) and grouped into a single PDF document in the order listed below, before attaching them in the “University record” section:

  • TRANSCRIPTS (mandatory – any missing, incomplete, unofficial or out-of-date transcripts, as well as the absence of any other required document listed below, will render the application ineligible):

A copy of all transcripts is required, for all doctoral studies pursued by the applicant, whether completed or not. This includes transcripts from exchange programs or courses (equivalencies), where applicable.

Transcripts must be up-to-date and include all completed semesters and grading scales (back of transcript).

Transcripts sent to the Fonds must be official. What makes a transcript official may differ from one academic institution to another. Nonetheless, to be deemed official by the Fonds, each transcript must:

1) be issued by the institution in question;

2) include elements indicating that it is an official transcript for that academic institution. This may be the seal or stamp of the issuing institution AND/OR the registrar’s signature AND/OR the notation “Official Transcript”, etc.

THE PRESENCE OF A WATERMARK will not render a transcript unofficial, as long as it meets the requirements specified above.

Any transcript that does not meet the requirements specified above or is not a certified copy of the original will be considered UNOFFICIAL and will render the application ineligible.

A transcript delivered in a sealed envelope by the registrar’s office can be opened and its contents scanned. Opening the envelope to scan the transcript will not render it unofficial for the purposes of the Fonds.

PLEASE NOTE: For a current program of study, the transcript must include the last semester completed before the competition deadline, including the summer session, if applicable.

Other documents to be provided with the transcripts, where applicable:

  • LETTER(S) OF EXPLANATION:

If the institution where the applicant’s studies took place does not provide a transcript, the applicant must attach a letter of explanation from this institution (registrar’s office or equivalent administrative body) stating the reasons for the missing transcripts.

If such a letter from the institution is not available, a letter of explanation written by the applicant, justifying the absence of a transcript and endorsed by the department director at the host institution, must be attached to the application.

Either of these two documents should allow the Fonds to verify the eligibility of the application, and then allow the evaluation committee to understand the situation and take it into consideration. The absence of either of these two letters, when required under the circumstances described above, will automatically render the application ineligible.

  • GRADING SYSTEM EXPLANATION:

For transcripts from institutions outside North America, the applicant must include a document (short letter) explaining the institution’s grading system, in order to allow a clear understanding of the transcripts.

3.2.3 “Integrated background presentation” section

  • INTEGRATED BACKGROUND PRESENTATION (mandatory):

In connection with the research skills evaluation criteria (see 4.2), the applicant must present his or her background in an integrated manner, establishing links between his or her experiences and interests on the one hand, and his or her career and education choices on the other. This presentation must provide the evaluation committee with a good understanding of the applicant’s personal background.

3.2.4 “Research project” section

  • RESEARCH PROJECT DESCRIPTION (mandatory):

Refer to the evaluation criteria for the research project (4.2) to be sure of including all necessary elements.

3.2.5 “Bibliography” section

  • BIBLIOGRAPHY (mandatory):

List the full references of the works used in the project description. Links to web pages may be included as bibliographic references where relevant.

3.2.6 “Host environment” section

  • JUSTIFICATION OF HOST ENVIRONMENT (mandatory):

Refer to the evaluation criteria for the host environment (4.2) to be sure of including all necessary elements. The benefits of co-supervision must also be demonstrated, if applicable.

3.2.7 “Social mobilization” section

  • SOCIAL MOBILIZATION ACTIVITIES (mandatory):

Refer to the social mobilization evaluation criteria (4.2) to be sure of including all necessary elements.

3.2.8 “Other documents” section

  • DOCTORAL DIPLOMA OR OTHER OFFICIAL DOCUMENT (mandatory):

A copy of the applicant’s original doctoral diploma issued by the registrar’s office is required. If the doctoral diploma has not yet been obtained, proof of the initial thesis submission must be provided. If the thesis has not been submitted at the time of application, a copy of the official doctoral transcript is required. If this cannot be provided, the applicant must attach a certificate from the registrar confirming registration in the doctoral program. Note: the document attesting to the official submission must be provided before the beginning of the fellowship.

  • STUDY PERMIT OR WORK PERMIT (if applicable):

A copy of the study permit or work permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada must be attached to the application if the applicant is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.

  • SUPPORTING DOCUMENT FOR ELIGIBILITY PERIOD EXCEPTION (if applicable):

Applicants seeking eligibility period exceptions in accordance with Section 2.2 above must provide an official document for each birth since the thesis submission or a medical certificate attesting to serious health reasons or disability.

Similarly, applicants seeking an exception to the host environment rule (see Section 2.5 above) must include the required supporting documents (medical certificate, certificate of disability, proof of tax credit for caregivers, etc.).

The Fonds reserves the right to refuse any request for exceptions that is not adequately justified.

3.3 Submitting the application
An incomplete application that does not contain the information necessary to establish eligibility or which cannot be evaluated will be deemed invalid by the Fonds. No documents other than those required will be submitted to the evaluation committee. Applicants will not be notified of any information or documents missing from the application. Any documents received after the competition deadline of 4 p.m. on October 13, 2021 will not be considered and applications cannot be updated after this deadline.

The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all required documents have been included and transmitted. ANY MISSING DOCUMENT WILL RENDER THE APPLICATION INELIGIBLE.

THE APPLICANT MUST NOT FORGET TO TRANSMIT THE APPLICATION AFTER COMPLETING AND VALIDATING IT, BY CLICKING THE “TRANSMETTRE” BUTTON IN THE FORM.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Once the application form has been submitted, it will not be possible to resubmit or modify the application in any way regardless of the initial transmission date, even if it is before the competition deadline.

At any time, applicants may verify in their E-portfolio that the most recent version of their application has been successfully submitted. The application file in “My forms” should be flagged as “Transmis au Fonds” before the competition deadline. This indicates that the application has been received by the Fonds.

All applications received by the Fonds are assessed for eligibility. A notice will be sent via email no later than December following the competition deadline, informing the applicant of the status of his/her application and, where applicable, its transmission to the evaluation committee. Applicants whose application package is deemed incomplete or invalid will be notified by email that their application has not been transmitted to the evaluation committee.

4. APPLICATION ASSESSMENT

4.1 Evaluation process
As indicated in Section 4 of the CGR , the Fonds receives fellowship applications and submits them for evaluation by specially formed committees. Only those applications whose scientific quality is considered satisfactory are recommended for funding by the evaluation committees.

Funding applications undergo scientific evaluation by evaluation committees composed of experts from the research fields covered by the Fonds. The members of the evaluation committees are known for their research skills and their knowledge of the research topics, methodologies and disciplinary basis of the applications under evaluation. If necessary, the evaluation committees may consult outside experts.

4.2 Evaluation criteria, indicators and weighting
Committee members evaluate the applications according to the evaluation criteria, indicators and weighting specified in these program rules, based on the Fonds Scores and Ratings Grid .

To be recommended, an application must obtain an overall score of 70% or more.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants are advised to attach equal importance to both the evaluation criteria and their associated indicators.

Applications are evaluated according to the following criteria, indicators and weighting:

Research skills (25 points)

  • Transcripts and honours (awards, distinctions and scholarships)
  • Relevant experience (teaching, supervision, assistantships, etc.) and scientific achievements (conferences, presentations, publications, etc.)
  • Applicant’s ability to present his or her background in an integrated manner (relationship between experiences and interests and career and education choices, trajectory, etc.)

Research project (35 points)

  • Originality, added value to the applicant’s doctoral work and contribution to the advancement of knowledge
  • Clarity and coherence of the research problem
  • Relevance of the methodology
  • Feasibility of the project and realism of the time frame

Host environment (15 points)

  • Justification and relevance of the chosen host environment, including the environment available to the applicant for his or her development and the realization of the project
  • Added value for the development of the applicant’s career plan

Social mobilization (20 points)

  • Ability to facilitate dialogue between science and society (outreach activities or participation in events intended for the general public, etc.)
  • Capacity for engagement (volunteering, community projects, civic and non-profit involvement, event organization, etc.)
  • Consideration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including equity, diversity and inclusion*

* SDG and equity, diversity and inclusion considerations can be integrated in the training program, the proposed research, science-society dialogue activities, or engagement activities. More information is available in the program Toolbox.

General presentation of the application (5 points)

The conditions governing funding decisions are specified in Section 4.5 of the CGR .

5. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULTS AND VALUE OF THE FELLOWSHIP

5.1 Announcement of results
The Fonds informs every applicant, via email, of the evaluation and funding decision made with regard to his/her application. Competition results are officially announced on the Fonds website and a letter is sent to the applicant’s E-portfolio, generally at the end of the month of April following the competition deadline.

Successful applicants must accept or refuse the fellowship within thirty (30) calendar days after the fellowship offer was sent, in the “Manage my funding” section of their E-portfolio. An applicant who fails to accept the fellowship before the deadline is considered to have refused the fellowship (CGR , Section 5.2).

5.2 Value and duration of funding
The annual value of the postdoctoral research fellowship is $45,000. The FRQSC board of directors reserves the right to modify the value of scholarships at any time, without notice, notably in accordance with the credits allocated annually by the Assemblée nationale du Québec, its strategic priorities and budgetary process.

The duration of the postdoctoral research fellowship is a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 24 months. An extension of funding for an additional year may be requested and granted on submission

and evaluation of a plan for the mobilization of knowledge stemming from the postdoctoral research, submitted to the Fonds through a funding competition during the second year of funding. This extension may only be requested once.

If the postdoctoral research is being carried out more than 250 km from Québec’s borders, an annual supplement of $10,000 will be granted for a total of $55,000 per year. In the case of co-supervision with a Québec institution, the amount will be adjusted in proportion to the number of months spent outside Québec.

6. TERMS OF THE FELLOWSHIP

To retain the fellowship, fellowship holders must meet the following basic conditions throughout the duration of funding:

  • Respect the conditions relating to citizenship and place of residence.
  • Have made an initial thesis submission before starting the fellowship and meet all requirements for the doctoral degree at the time of the third instalment.
  • Be present at the host environment for the duration of the fellowship and devote himself/herself full-time to the postdoctoral research.
  • Respect the rules relating to concurrent funding.
  • Respect the rules relating to paid employment.

Fellowship holders who were not Canadian citizens at the time of application must live in Québec on a regular and daily basis throughout the entire duration of funding, even if their citizenship status changes.

Fellowship holders are required to inform the Fonds immediately if they cease to satisfy any of these conditions. Should any of these conditions no longer be met, the Fonds will be obliged to withdraw the fellowship and could request reimbursement.

6.1 Fellowship period
The fellowship period must begin between April 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023.

The fellowship is non-transferrable from one year to the next.

The fellowship is not retroactive and any work conducted in the months prior to April 2022 will not be funded. For applicants who have already begun their research, the fellowship period starts no earlier than April 1st, 2022.

6.2 Fellowship payments
Fellowship instalments must be requested by the fellowship holder for each 4-month period, in the “Manage my funding” section of the E-portfolio. The first payment will only be made once the Fonds has received a certified copy of the fellowship holder’s doctoral diploma, certified by the Registrar’s office, or an official attestation of the initial doctoral thesis submission. A copy of the doctoral diploma or proof that all requirements have been met for the doctoral degree is required for payment of the third instalment.

Triannual instalment payments are made for the duration of the fellowship eligibility period, subject to the production of a satisfactory progress report along with the request for the fourth instalment.

With the exception of the first instalment, which must be claimed no later than March 1 of the year following the awarding of the fellowship under penalty of immediate cancellation of the fellowship, any unclaimed payment can be cancelled at the end of the period it covers, without advance notice.

6.3 Presence at the host environment
To retain the fellowship, the fellowship holder must be present at the host environment for the duration of the fellowship and devote himself/herself full-time to carrying out the research activities. Failure to respect this rule could result in the withdrawal of the fellowship. If, under exceptional circumstances, these conditions cannot be respected, the Fonds must be advised as soon as possible and will determine whether the fellowship should be maintained or cancelled.

A 4-week annual vacation period is permitted.

Note that the postdoctoral fellowship cannot be suspended during the funding period. Under exceptional circumstances, the fellowship holder should contact the Fonds, which will analyze the situation on reception of the required supporting documents and approve or refuse the requested suspension.

6.4 Convertibility of the fellowship
A fellowship can be used as a start-up grant by a fellowship holder who is offered a position as a regular professor in a Québec university. The fellowship holder must have completed a full year of funding under the postdoctoral fellowship (12 months) or received 3 full fellowship instalments before requesting to convert part of the fellowship (up to $15,000) into a start-up grant for the new position. The effective date of the start-up grant is the fellowship holder’s employment start date.

This grant is subject to the same rules as those of the Research Support for New Academics

program. A person who benefits from this conversion remains eligible to apply for this program.

A SSHRC postdoctoral fellowship holder who has also received a FRQSC funding offer under this program and accepted it, may benefit from this conversion, if applicable.

6.5 Parental leave
A postdoctoral fellowship holder may receive an additional instalment for parental leave for a maximum of 6 months, if the research is interrupted in the 6 months following the birth or adoption of a child and the first instalment of the fellowship has already been paid.

This supplement cannot be divided. In case of a parental leave of a shorter duration, the supplement will be adjusted.

In addition, the fellowship holder may suspend his/her research for parental leave without pay for up to one year. However, if the fellowship holder chooses to take the 6-month paid leave, the leave without pay is reduced to 6 months for a total leave of one year.

To receive the supplement for parental leave, the fellowship holder must suspend his/her postdoctoral research.

For more information about conditions regarding parental leave, refer to Section 6.13 of the CGR .

6.6 Reimbursement of travel expenses
Travel expenses to and from the host environment at the start and end of the postdoctoral program are reimbursed when supported by receipts, provided they were not reimbursed by another agency. The maximum travel allowance is equivalent to the price of one economy airline ticket.

Fellowship holders who have not yet defended their thesis may be reimbursed for an additional round trip.

In addition, at the beginning and end of the postdoctoral fellowship, travel expenses outside Québec for the spouse and children of the fellowship holder may also be covered by the Fonds, provided they are not reimbursed by any other agency.

6.7 Concurrent awards
The fellowship may not be held concurrently with:

  • A fellowship or scholarship from a Canadian granting agency such as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA), etc;
  • A fellowship or scholarship from a Québec granting agency such as the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS), the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT), the Conseil de recherches en pêche et agro-alimentaire du Québec (CORPAQ), etc;
  • A scholarship from the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) or the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) awarded for the same project.

The fellowship may be held concurrently with:

  • Scholarships and fellowships from ministries and agencies of the Québec and Canadian governments, other than those mentioned above;
  • Private sector and university scholarships and fellowships.

IMPORTANT: Individuals who receive a funding offer from SSHRC and the FRQSC for the same application must ACCEPT the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, and can then ACCEPT the FRQSC fellowship in order to receive any applicable additional benefits associated with the latter (i.e. the annual supplement of $10,000 for postdoctoral research more than 250 km from Québec, the possibility of obtaining an extension for an additional year of funding and the conversion into a start-up grant). These benefits are granted on analysis of the file and any supporting documents requested. Fellowship holders who find themselves in this situation must send an email to the program manager, who will contact them directly.

6.8 Paid employment
A fellowship holder may accept paid employment provided that:

  • the employment does not exceed 250 hours per 4-month period;
  • his/her research supervisor does not object;
  • the employment does not interfere with research activities.

The Fonds considers teaching a 45-hour course to be equivalent to 150 hours of employment. Note that the same 45-hour teaching assignment given to two groups during the same term constitutes two teaching assignments.

The salary that the fellowship holder receives exclusively for his/her research project is considered to be a fellowship.

6.9 Modifying the research project, host environment or (co)supervisor
As indicated in Section 6.5 of the CGR , any modification to the research project, environment or (co)supervisor requires prior authorization from the Fonds. The fellowship holder must submit a change request in his/her E-portfolio in the “Manage my funding” section. The program officer will analyze the request and ensure that it does not affect the outcome of the initial application evaluation or its eligibility for the award program. The decision to accept or refuse the request will be communicated via email.

7. SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP

The FRQSC offers scholarships in collaboration with partners. Eligible applicants are selected through a three-step process:

  1. Applicant must select, in the Partenariats section of the application form, one or more partners whose research areas are in line with the theme of their application.
  2. The FRQSC sends the partners a list of interested applicants and the information needed to assess the relevance of the applications based on their strategic and research priorities.
  3. Following evaluation of the applications by a peer committee, those that obtain a scientific excellence score of 70% and are deemed relevant by the partners concerned will be considered for partnership funding.

Like all other awards offered by the FRQSC, scholarships in partnership are granted based on merit following scientific evaluation by a peer committee.

By choosing to be considered for a scholarship in partnership and on obtaining this type of funding, the applicant agrees to being contacted by the partner for activities related to the research project.

Partner:

Québec SPOR Support Unit (Unité de soutien SRAP du Québec)
The Québec Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Support Unit is a provincial unit of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) national SPOR network. Nestled at the heart of a learning health system, it supports and catalyzes the continuous improvement of Québec’s health system by mobilizing the research, health and social services communities, with and for the population. The scholarships offered in partnership with the Unit allow recipients to hone their skills, gain valuable POR experience, network, and work in an interdisciplinary manner with the various actors and stakeholders of a learning health system.

8. EFFECTIVE DATE

The provisions set out in this document apply to the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

The Fonds reserves the right to modify the value of the scholarship and/or the program rules detailed in this document without prior notice.

Version updated on the website July 9, 2021.